Sparkle in the night: Flesher family to open annual light extravaganza

TRACY X. MIGUEL-NAVARRO

10:02 AM, Dec 3, 2013

Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Roxann Slasor and her mother Joann Flesher replace burned out Christmas lights at the Flesher Ranch on Monday evening on Bonita Grande Drive in Bonita Springs. The Flesher family has been growing their festive display on their five acre property since 1986. This year the family's Christmas display has some 3 million lights. The Flesher's will open their grounds for viewing on Friday, Dec. 6. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday 6 to 9 p.m. then 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Santa Claus will be giving sleigh rides Dec. 17-23 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Then after Christmas, Skippy the horse will be giving kids rides Dec. 26-31 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30.

BONITA SPRINGS - It’s a family tradition that never gets old, just brighter.

Since 1986, the Flesher family has turned their 3.5-acre farm in East Bonita Springs into a winter wonderland with Christmas decorations and millions of holiday lights, spreading Christmas cheer across the Bonita Springs community.

Flesher said he enjoys hosting the annual Christmas light display for the community and to raise donations to help people in the community.

This year, the Fleshers added more lights, featuring 3 million lights at their farm on Bonita Grande Drive just north of Bonita Beach Road. Other additions to the hundreds of decorations at the Bonita Springs winter wonderland is a snowflake carousel, a new peacock and about nine other inflatable figurines, including a Santa in a hammock.

The farm’s garage is replete with a little village, electric trains, Christmas trees, shiny ornaments and vintage moving toys. The family’s horses will join the 60-lighted deer decked for the holidays.

Flesher declined to comment about the electricity bills.

“It’s kind of high,” he said laughing.

The family started decorating their farm for the annual extravaganza in September. Yet, decorations can be torn down and put way for next year in about two weeks.

When asked how many hours the family has invested in decorating the farm, Flesher, who has calluses on the side of his index and middle fingers because of changing light bulbs, said he could not say, but it has been many— some days up to 12 hours a day.

With all of the lights, comes the need to replace light bulbs from the strings of white and multicolored lights.

“I call her the light bulb angel because I don’t have enough patience to replace them,” said Flesher.

This year, Slasor said the family has spent at least $900 in replacement bulbs.

The annual extravaganza is a tradition started by Carl “Bud” Flesher and his father, Charles, in 1986.

The annual Christmas lights display ceased operations for a few years after Charles’ death in 1999 but has since been reopened by family members. Bud continued hosting the holiday light spectacular for a few years before suffering an illness and moving to Georgia. He died Nov. 7, 2012.

Since then, family members carry have continued the tradition and the event keeps on growing. The light display is now run by Bud Flesher’s brother, Chuck Flesher, Slasor, along with Flesher’s mother, Margaret.

“We were shut down a few years, but it wasn’t Christmas without the lights,” said Slasor.

The Fleshers brother started the light display in honor of their sister, Vickie, who died in October 1986. Vickie, who was developmentally disabled, loved Christmas lights, recalled her family.

For the last 20 years, Corbin said the club has given more than $20,000 in scholarships.

Club members volunteer to direct traffic in an improvised lot that can hold about 500 cars.

The Flesher family will flip the switch of the Christmas light display at their home — at 27865 Bonita Grande Drive — on Friday, Dec. 6 through New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. The display is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Santa will be visiting the Flesher farm for this year’s holiday light display, starting 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 17 through Dec. 23.